Nexteer Automotive Returns in 2018 with RCR

Nexteer livery

Nexteer Automotive and Richard Childress Racing have extended their partnership between the two companies for the 2018 NASCAR XFINITY Series season. Entering their third year with RCR, Nexteer will serve as a multi-race primary partner for RCR newcomer Matt Tifft and the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro team.

Nexteer's 2018 season kicks off with the XFINITY Series opener at Daytona International Speedway. The automotive company will also serve as an associate sponsor for the No. 2 Chevrolet for all additional XFINITY Series races, as well as a full-time associate sponsor with 2017 XFINITY Series championship contender Daniel Hemric and the No. 21 Chevrolet Camaro.

"It's great to be back at the track with two like-minded brands side-by-side for our third season," said Lynn Pavlawk, Nexteer's Executive Director of Global Marketing, Strategic Planning and Communications. "Nexteer and RCR share a winning formula of high performance with safety, relentless innovation and expert systems integration.There isn't a better – or more brutal – environment than a NASCAR race to showcase how Nexteer's steering technology enhances a vehicle's safety, responsiveness and handling."

Beginning in 2016, RCR and Nexteer formed a successful partnership in which Nexteer showcases its advanced steering technologies and engages with its global customers and employees through the NASCAR program. In turn, RCR benefits from Nexteer's power steering technology and exceptional performance, which can help overcome the difference between first and second place on the track.

For the 2018 season, 21-year-old Matt Tifft joins RCR as driver of the No. 2 Nexteer Chevrolet Camaro. Tifft, whose background includes dirt and asphalt super late model racing, is coming off a strong rookie season in the XFINITY season. He finished seventh in the 2017 driver point standings after making the XFINITY Series Playoffs and collected two top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.

"We're happy to be able to continue to grow our partnership with Nexteer Automotive in 2018," said Torrey Galida, President of Richard Childress Racing. "Both RCR and Nexteer realize the value in investing in R&D and product development, and that alignment benefits both of our organizations in performance. We're all looking forward to seeing Matt in the Nexteer Camaro during the 2018 season."